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In this study, isothermal torsion tests were carried out on magnesium AZ31B alloy under constant strain rate conditions, in the range of 250 to 400oC at 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 s-1. Alloy flow stress dependence on strain rate and temperature can be described by a power law with activation energy of 130 kJ/mol. Microstructural examination of hot deformed samples shows very fine recrystallized grains decorating grain boundaries of larger gains in the form of a necklace. These fine grains are produced by dynamic recrystallization at the grain boundaries of original grains. Microstructure evolution, based on samples quenched at different strain levels, indicates that increasing deformation strain has little effect on recrystallized grain size but widens the recrystallized region, with full recrystallization achieved at a certain high strain level. Recrystallized grain size increases with increasing deformation temperature and strain rate. The latter suggests recrystallization in AZ31 to be essentially a time dependant phenomenon.

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Semi-solid forming is a relatively new process whereby an alloy with thixotropic characteristics at a temperature between solidus and liquidus is formed (cast or forged) into a component in a mould or die. This technology is based on research originally carried out at MIT in the 1970s on rheological properties of semi-solid metals subjected to mechanical stirring. By not starting with a super-heated melt as in conventional liquid pressure die casting, semi-solid die-casting offers distinct advantages such as low cycle time, less porosity and shrinkage because of non-turbulent flow and less volume fraction of liquid, improved die life and significantly better mechanical properties. On the other hand, by not starting with a solid metal as in conventional forging, semi-solid forging offers a distinct advantage of much less load required to form the part as well as the possibility of forging to the final shape in one step.The success or failure in the production of a component largely depends on the temperature uniformity and microstructural homogeneity of the semi-solid thixotropic feedstock material prior to the forming operation. This paper describes results of work related to (1) the preparation of AZ91D feedstock by electro-magnetic stirring combined with superheat reduction, (2) reheating of this material by induction to the semi-solid state with thixotropic properties, (3) semi-solid die-casting of box-like components and (4) the semi-solid forging of a disc-like component. The reheating was carried out in a single induction coil programmed to provide variable power input such that a low temperature gradient and a minimal liquid metal segregation in the billet feedstock were achieved. The microstructure was monitored throughout the various stages of processing to achieve the desired semi-solid microstructure for successful forming operation.The paper describes the evolution of the microstructure from preparation of feed stock material, during reheating and forming operations. Electromagnetic stirring combined with super heat reduction is shown to have a significant role in breaking up the dendritic structure to a rosette structure during the solidification of melt to prepare the desired feedstock material (Figure 1). Upon reheating to the semi-solid state, the rosette structure transform to a globular structure, which enables an easy gliding of the solid alpha-phase particles in the liquid phase during the forming operation ( Figure 2) and hence, leading to a successful semi-solid die-casting and forging to the final component.